Hair cutting tool



Jan. 6, 1959 H. PLoUGH 2,866,984

HAIR CUTTING TooL Filed May 24. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7H HARULD PM LLEH' ATT Y.

Jan. 6, 1959 HAIR CUTTING TOOL Filed May 24. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTUR HARDLD F1.n u qH H. PLoUGH 2,866,984

2,866,984 HAIR CUTTING rooL.. Harold Plough, Aurora, Ill. Applicaan May 24, 1957, serial No. 661,476

' loclaims. (cry-414.1)

The invention relates to improvements. in hair cutting tools and is particularly concerned with a novel cutting tool of a type that is very useful in shaping, thinning and styling hair on the human head. Tools of this charactergenerally embody the characteristics of a conventional straight razor and they include a long straight handle portion and a head portion that is formed to receive, removably mounted therein, a single edge razor blade. The tool disclosed herein has its blade carrying head portion disposed angularly relative to the handle portion to facilitate its use and the tool maybe 4.safely used without a blade guard.y However, it preferably is provided with a novel bumper guard that can be easily removed from or attached directly to the razor blade and, when attached, the guard is movable relative to the cutting edge of the blade so as to be carried automatically out of the path of said cutting edge while the blade is in use. When thetool is not in use, one edge of the attached guard will project beyond the cutting edge cutting the user. This characteristic of known cutting tools prevents the user fromperforming any one or .all of the many other acts required during a hair-dressing operation. For example, it is important and necessary to comb and cut in sequence during a styling, or to apply a bobby pin to certain areas of the hair, This usually is best vaccomplished by usingthe same hand used for holding the cutting tool. This necessitates tightening of the grip on the tool in order to hold a comb, thus slowing down the operators technique, because slipping of the 't ool in the .hand could cause possible injury. The present cutting tool includes novel structure, preferably `in. tlue' ,forin` of a resiliently flexible loop or loops on the handle, either one of which may be engaged aroundV one'iingerof the hand so as to automatically turn the tool in' thehand and thereby prevent the tool fromsliding even though the grip thereon may be entirely relaxed..

Hair thinning, cutting or shaping usually requires that some or'all of the hair in certain areas of the head be cut to a length of about 3, while inother areas itmay be cut to about 4 or perhaps 57'. Much time is saved by the user of the present tool, which includes novel means to determine the length to which the lhair is to be reduced. This means .preferably comprises theprovision of a measuring scale on the tool handleto permit its use as ameasuring device. 1

Itis, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novelly constructed, well balanced, hair'cuttingftool. Another object is to provide ahair cutting'" tool`that is properly shaped to iit the hand.

Another object is to provide a haircuttin'gftool'iof such ned are guard for the blade.

shape as to prevent an operator from cutting too close tothe head. f

Another object is to provide` novel means to automatically turn the blade away from its cutting direction when released by the hand.

Another object is to `provide a hair cutting tool so constructed as to permit safe use o f tool with unguarded razor blade. y

Another object is to provide a hair cutting tool ofthe character described which includes novel means to de- 'tachably secureit to the hand 'so as, to prevent it from falling or slipping therefrom.

Another object is to provide a hair cutting tool, of

the character havingV arazor typeblade mounted therein,

with a novel' easily removed or attachedl floating bumper Another object is to measuring scale.

With the foregoing and ysuch other objects in view, which `will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the vaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made provide a cutting tool with a 4without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' Referring to the drawings in which the same characters vportion and a fragment of reference are employed to identify corresponding parts: 1,

Figure '1. is a, perspectiveview of one embodiment of the hair cutting tool,` showing it held loosely in a. hand.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view ofthe cutting tool. Figure 3 is a top edge view of the cutting tool head of the handle portion thereof. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail,v sectional viewl takenon line 4 4 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a razor blade of thecharacter used in the tool herein disclosed.

.Figure is an enlarged perspective view ofthe novel bumper guard.4

Figure? is a perspective view of another embodiment ofthe tool.

Figure 8 is an elevational View of. the handle portion of the tool shown in Figure 7.

. Referring to the accompanying drawings, the haircutting tool shown in Figures 1 through 5 is preferably fabricated from a shaped length of sheet metal stock suitably folded upon itself longitudinally to provide a'double wall structure and comprised of an elongatedflat-handle poi;- tion 11 and a at blade-holding head portion 12'. The plane of the head portion 12 preferably is disposed at an angle to the plane of the handle portion 11, as is perhapsr best illustrated in Figure 3, so as to facilitate use of the device. As shown, the head portion `1 2Y isconsiderably narrower in its lover-all width than the width `of the adjacent connected portion of the handle 11 so as to provide an inwardly offset edge 13 substantially co-extensive with the length of the head portion.

A conventional type of singleedge razor blade 14 is slideably mounted'in the head portion 12, as is perhaps best illustrated in Figure 4, so as to dispose its cutting edge 15 substantially in alignment with the edge 16 of the handle portion 11. The blade 14 has en d recesses '17 which are utilized, in the present disclosure, to loosely its ends with an integral attaching or clip portion 19 which is adapted to be engaged in a related one of the end recesses or notches 157 so as to hold the bumper guard 18 substantially in. the position illustrated. in Figure 4 with respect to the blade 14.

It should be noted that each. f. the. clips, Y1,9 0n the guard 18 have one of their side edges; 21 'cutl back inwardly of its ends so as to permit rocking motion to b e accorded the 4bumper guard 18 about the engagement of the offset edges 2 1l of the clips 1,9 with the related edges of the engaged recesses 17. This construction is such that although the bumper guard is retained in place on the blade until such time as its removal is desired, it is free to rock into andl out of parallel with the plane of the blade. When parallelrto, or in substantial face to face contact with the blade, the guard will normally prevent inadvertent contact of the edge ofthe blade with any object o r thing which might be damaged or injured thereby. The bumper guard may, however, rock in such direction that the protruding free forward edge 22 thereof is carried outwardly away from the cutting edge during the hair cutting operation to thereby not interfere in any manner whatsoever with the usual and normal functioning of the blade.

Inasmuch as it is frequently necessary to determine the intended length of the hair preliminary to or while the cutting operations are proceeding, it is most advantageous to provide, on the cutting tool, measuring means preferably in the form of the scale calibrations 23 best shown in Figure 2. As illustrated, the calibrations are representative of live 1" scale markings and it should be quite apparent that an operator may easily and quickly obtain any required measurement by the simple expedient of thrusting the extreme end of the head portion 12 against the scalp and combing the wardly alongor adjacent to the cutting tool. This obviates the need for the use lof a separate measuring de vice. t

Owing to the necessity, during the process of cutting, thinning or trimming the hair on a human head, to frequently comb the hair or otherwise perform functions not specifically requiring the use of the cutting tool, the grip on the cutting tool sometimes relaxes to a degree that would permit said tool to slide in the hand with resultant injury to the operator or patron. In order to obviate this undesirable occurence and furthermore to enable the operator to retain the cutting tool in the hand while using said hand to pin, comb, or otherwise perform unrelated operations on the hair, the cutting tool is provided with novel means to prevent displacement of the same.

One such means is perhaps best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, where it will be observed the free end of the handle'portion 11 is provided preferably with a plurality of mutually spaced apart openings 24, preferably on the folded margin thereof, and through which are eX- tended the free ends of loops 2S. Either or both of these loops may consist of suitable lengths of rubber, elastic cord, or other pliable but wear resisting material. The free ends of the loops 25 are anchored within the handle portion 11 in any suitable manner. In use, the operator will insert the little finger, preferably, of the hand through either one or the other of the loops 25. The engaged loop is then twisted, in the manner illustrated in Figure l, so as to tension the elastic loop about the finger and when the cutting tool is held substantially in the position illustrated in Figure l it cannot slip out of the operators hand even though the fingers thereof are substantially relaxed and disengaged therefrom, as shown.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the tool is substantially like the tool previously described and like numbers are used to identify corresponding parts. In this disclosure, however, the handle portion 11 is provided lwith means to facilitate adjustment of the single hair outelastic cord 25a provided thereon. As shown, one wall of the handle is formed with a slot 26 spaced inwardly from its free end and preferably disposed at an angle of about so as to receive one knotted end of the elastic cord 25a.

A plurality of mutually spaced slots 27 also are provided in the said wall of the handle portion 11 inwardly of the slot 26 and these slots also are disposed at an angle of about 45 in a direction opposed to the angle of slot 26. The other knotted cordend is selectively engaged in either one of the slots 27, the selection of the slot engaged being determined by the operator so as to adapt the holding means for cooperation with various sizes of hands. Inthe Figure 7 disclosure, the cord is engaged around the third finger in the same manner as described with reference to the Figure 1 disclosure. Because of the twist in the finger engaged loop on the third finger, the cutting tool automatically turns away from the` relaxed fingers or the head of the patron while said fingers are engaged in other holding functions.

As many possible embodiments may b e made in the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiments set forth above, lit is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A hair cutting tool of the character adapted to be held in the hand comprisinga one-piece holder including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion being disposed at an angle to the handle portion and having one edge thereof offset inwardly from the complemental edge of the handle to define an edge recess, a razor blade carried,y by said head portion and filling the recess, said blade having its cutting edge substantially coplanar to the said edge of the handle, a bumper guard loosely mounted on the portion of the blade within said recess, said guard having an edge substantially co-extensive with and parallel to the cutting edge, and means to prevent slipping of the tool when the holding grip thereon is relaxed.

2. A hair cutting tool of the character adapted to be held in the hand comprising a one-piece holder including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion having one edge thereof offset inwardly from the complemental edge of the handle to define an edge recess, a razor blade carried by said head portion and filling the recess, said blade having its cutting edge substantially coplanar to the said edge of the handle, a bumper guard loosely mounted on the portion of the blade within said recess, said guard having an edge substantially co-extensive with and parallel'to the cutting edge, and means 'to prevent slipping of the tool when the holding grip thereon is relaxed.

3. In a hair cutting tool ofthe type adapted to be held in the hand, said tool comprising an elongated handle portion and a head portion on one end of the handle portion and disposed at an angle relative to the plane ofthe handle, measuring scale markings on said handle portion, a cutting blade carried by the head and having an exposed cutting edge,A a guard loosely mounted on said blade, said guard having an edge lying in the plane of said cutting edge and adapted normally to prevent unintended contact with the Vcutting edge, said guard being movable relative to said blade to permit said cutting edge to perform `its function when the tool is in use, and means onthe handle portion to positively secure the handle to a hand so as to prevent slipping thereof.

4. In a hair cutting tool of the type adapted to be held in the hand, said tool comprising a head portion and an elongated handle portion, a cutting blade carried in the head portion, and resilient means on the handle engageable with a finger on a hand to prevent slipping of the tool when held loosely.

5. In a hair cutting tool of the type adapted to be held in the hand, said tool comprising an elongated handle portion and a head portion on one end of the handle portion and disposed at an angle relative to the plane of the handle portion, a cutting blade carried by the head portion, a finger engaging resilient loop carried by said handle portion, and means to adjust said loop so as to adapt it for engagement with a selected nger of a hand holding said tool, said loop being twisted in a manner to move the tool and carry the cutting blade out of cutting position when the grip on the handle portion is relaxed.

6. In a hair cutting tool of the type adapted to be held in the hand, said tool comprising an elongated handle portion and a head portion on one end thereof, a cutting blade carried by the head portion, a plurality of slotted openings in the handle portion, and an elastic cord engaged at its ends in selected openings, said cord defining a loop adapted to be engaged around a nger of' a hand gripping the cutting tool and the engaged loop being twisted and tensioned so as to carry the cutting tool into an ineffective position when the grip on the handle is relaxed.

7. A hair cutting tool of the character adapted to be held in the hand comprising a one-piece holder including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion having one edge thereof olset inwardly from the complemental edge of the handle to dene an edge recess, a razor blade carried by said head portion and lling the recess, said blade having its cutting edge substantially coplanar to the said edge ofthe handle, and a bumper guard loosely mounted on the blade within said recess, said guard having an edge substantially coextensive with and parallel to the cutting edge.

8. A hair cutting tool of the character adapted to be held in the hand comprising a holder including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion being disposed at an angle to the handle portion and having one edge thereof onset inwardly from the complementar edge of the handle to deline an edge recess, a razor blade carried by said head portion and filling the recess, said blade having its cutting edge substantially complanar to the said edge of the handle, and a bumper guard loosely mounted, on the portion of the blade within the recess.

9. A hair cutting tool comprising a rigid one-piece holder including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion being substantially U-shaped in section, a blade having one of its edge margins telescoped into said U-shaped head portion and a cutting edge on its other edge, a guard plate on one face of the exposed portion of said blade, a mounting clip at each end of the plate and engageable with an end edge of the blade to detachably secure the guard to the blade in a manner to permit limited rocking movement between the guard and blade, said guard having an edge substantialy co-extensive with the cutting edge. i

l0. A hair cutting tool comprising a rigid holder i11- cluding a handle portion and a head portion, a blade having one of its edge margins mounted in the head portion and a cutting edge on its other edge, a guard plate on one face of the exposed portion of said blade having an edge substantially coplanar with said cutting edge, and means on the opposed ends of said guide plate and adjacent to its other edge engageable with the blade for detachably securing the guard directly to the blade in a manner to permit limited rocking movement between the guard and blade.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

